Richard Molinar
Small Farms and Specialty Crops Advisor

Contact Information
UC Cooperative Extension
1720 S. Maple Avenue
Fresno, CA 93702
Main Phone: 559-456-7285
Direct Line: 559-456-7555
FAX: 559-456-7575
Email: rhmolinar@ucdavis.edu

Program Description

Richard Molinar has been a farm advisor with the University of California for 17 years. For the last 8 years he has focused on small family farms in Fresno County. There are over 4,000 (65% of all farms) family farms in the county, half of which are minority operated. We have a very large number of farms operated by Hmong and Lao refugee farmers, as well as many Hispanic farmers. Bilingual meetings are offered to assist the minority clientele with farming issues. Richard employs a Hmong assistant to help with translation, meetings, field visits, and research focusing on specialty Asian vegetables. Many of the meetings are co-sponsored by various community groups such as Lao Family, Hmong American Community, and African American Farmers Organization, as well as other government agencies including USDA, Fresno State, American Farmland Trust etc.

Below are recent and current specialty crop research projects and meetings offered by Richard's program. Newsletters are sent periodically to provide information regarding current issues or to announce upcoming meetings.

General Information

Marketing Specialty Crops
Family Farms in Fresno, CA
Specialty Crops in Fresno County, 2000
Guide to Asian Specialty Vegetables in the Central Valley, CA

Small Farms-Labor, OSHA, Statistics Power Point Presentation

Research

Strawberry Variety Trial - Fresno, CA, 2001
Evaluation of Twenty Varieties of Cherry Tomatoes in Fresno, CA - 1999
Fresno County Grape Tomato Variety Trial
Grape Tomato Trial Pictures
Mini "Personal" Watermelon Variety Trial

Useful Links

Asian Vegetables
Fruits
IPM
Vegetables
Weeds